Helpful Articles
Top 5 Public Records Mistakes
Article PDF August 2023 1. Taking too long. Every state has a law requiring government agencies to respond to public records requests within a certain timeframe. Some states require agencies to acknowledge to the requester they have received the request within...
The Problem with NIBRS
Article PDFThe FBI had set a goal for all U.S. law enforcement agencies to transition to NIBRS reporting by January 2021. As of today, only slightly more than half of them have done so. What are the ramifications of not reporting? Why has this happened? Transitioning...
NIBRS: Getting It Right
Article PDF May 2023 When looking at NIBRS implementation and the ability to handle it successfully, agencies should ask the following: Have we prepared for the reporting and quality control changes which are required for NIBRS? Does our policy establish what...
Is It a Record Or Is It Evidence?
Article PDF The confusion regarding whether an item is a record or evidence can be easily eliminated with one simple statement: it can be both. This confusion typically occurs when the time comes to purge records and/or evidence, as well as when agencies begin...
Body-worn video tagging errors: ramifications, prevention, correction
TIM GEHRING, CONSULTANT PRI MANAGEMENT GROUP March 2023 Article PDF The familiar story goes something like this: “Our agency got a grant and purchased body-worn cameras for our officers. Now we’re able to meet the recent mandates of our state legislature and easily...
Digital Evidence Management
February 2023 Carl Brooks, ConsultantPRI Management Group Save article PDF Constantly changing technology. A profession always seeking ways to adapt to the changes. That is law enforcement in 2023. In recent years, a particularly challenging issue has been the...
Your Story
Your story is one we understand. We can assure you, you're not alone.The job of records management is more important than most who work in law enforcement realize. Information is the lifeblood of the agency. When mismanaged, records and data impede the success of its...
Quality Control: duplication and accuracy of police records
January 2022 Article PDF Our September 2021 article, “Do you work for your RMS or does your RMS work for you?”, laid bare the pervasiveness of both poor vendor support and troublesome software, and the importance of due diligence when buying a new system. While there...
Law enforcement data loss. Are you at risk?
November 15, 2021 Carl Brooks, ConsultantEd Claughton, PresidentPRI Management Group According to the Dallas Morning News, over four million case notes, audio files, photos, and videos totaling greater than seven terabytes of data have been inappropriately erased...
Do you work for your RMS or does your RMS work for you?
Ed Claughton, President PRI Management Group September 2021 Article PDF Records management systems (RMS) should make your life easier, not harder. All too often we hear about the persistent problems our customers have with their records management system (and...
The Link Between Animal Cruelty, Terrorism and Violence (and NIBRS)
June 2021 Kim Staton Osceola County, FL Animal Services Mary Lou Randour Animal Welfare Institute Article PDF There is no doubt a link exists between animal cruelty and other types of crime. Paying attention to animal cruelty crime, a NIBRS reportable offense, offers...
7 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a CAD/RMS Vendor
Article PDF FEBRUARY 2021 There are 7 costly project mistakes which when avoided, can save your department years of headaches, unnecessary costs, and clouds on your career which can follow you until the day you retire. Being associated with a project that fails or a...